Extra powers for Gravity/ForceField Controller

[Jay-D]

Hi,

currently leveling a Gravity/FF Controller I exclusively play together with a KineticMelee/Shield Brute and I don't know what power pool powers to pick now that I'm lvl 30. So far, I'd say we've had the most trouble with TF AVs but always somehow managed in the end.
From my primary and secondary sets, I took:

• Lift
• Gravity Distortion
• Propel
• Crushing Field
• Gravity Distortion Field
• Wormhole
• Singularity

 

• Personal Force Field
• Deflection Shield
• Insulation Shield
• Dispersion Bubble
• Force Bomb

As well as Aid Self, Aid Other and Field Medic and Super Jump.

 

I considered taking Maneuvers, but had already picked that before doing a respec and got endurance problems. Or Combat Jumping just for myself, but ideally, I shouldn't really get attacked much in the first place.

I'm also a bit disappointed with my damage output, the Nemesis Staff from START seems to be better than all my primary attacks with 3 Damage SOs, so I'm wondering if there are any worthy attacks (Experimentation? How useful are Toxic Dart and Corrosive Vial?). I'm also currently struggling a bit with keeping a damage rotation going without gaps.

 

Looking forward to any input!

[Six-Six]

Two words: Patience and Cunning.

Patience. You're a troller. don't expect massive damage. your most damaging attack is Propel. You can also augment your other attacks with procs. Or you can go to the tertiary pool for other attacks, but don't expect huge damage. (from my experience Arcane Bolt from Sorcery Pool is the best, unless you're strict with adhering to theme or concept). 

Also, you're only level 30. while you have enough powers, you don't have enough slots. Hang tough until the late 30s when you have more slots and you have access to Epic/Patron powers. Those tend to be a bit more damage... but not blaster level... heck, not even sentinel level. You got your Singularity pet. Pets are awesome, but don't rely on them so much. You have to work together.

Cunning. While you have dismal damage, you have superior control. You can immobilise, hold, and employ other controls so that your foes just sit there while you pound them with your dismal damage. FF shields on your pet makes it tankier and can last longer in a tangle.

You can also pick Teleport Pool and TP Target to yeet them to you (and your pet) for selective (dismal) damage-dealing. I personally prefer Fold Space over Wormhole.
You may also pick Corrosive Vial or Force of will for some def debuff.

I personally always take the leadership pool to get Tactics by level 20. This is because your "beginner's luck" (accuracy) steadily drops until it's all gone by level 20. Tactics gives you +to hit. This plus an acc IO or 2 in each attack power will let you handle tougher foes. No matter how much damage you have, it's useless if it doesn't connect.

PS. I'd drop personal force field unless you're using it as a mule. I'd replace it with Repulsion Bolt or Repulsion Field. KB is also a form of control. they can't attack if they're on the floor. Also, it's fun to run through mobs and knock them down like bowling pins.

 

[dukedukes]

I'll repeat one thing @Six-Six mentioned for added emphasis, procs are pretty big for trollers to get some damage output. For priority to slot with procs it's probably Force Bomb > Gravity Distortion > Arcane Bolt. You'd want to proc your epic pool attacks too, prefer proc'ing the aoe first.

 

Between Propel, Arcane Bolt, Lift, and Gravity Distortion (pre-epic pool) you should have a complete attack rotation.

 

Make sure you immobilize or hold the enemy first so you get containment damage, this doubles your non-proc damage.

 

I'd recommend placing Singularity on top of your teammate (I prefer TP target to accomplish this but pet commands work) with Sudden Acceleration: Knockback to Knockdown slotted, Singularity will pull all the mobs nearby to itself so your teammate should get more target saturation out of their AOE attack. If you have very little influence I would prioritize buying this enhancement first.

 

For your epic pool Earth would be the highest single target DPS option.

 

Try to target higher health enemies with your single target attacks. Your teammate should be able to take the rest down with little help.

[Jay-D]

Thank you for those insights, @Six-Six!

I know not to expect Blaster levels of damage, but having played another Controller before I feel more let down with this one than I remember from the other. I was also considering Magic Bolt, which I took with that other Controller, but for this one it sadly does clash quite dramatically with the theme I'm going for (but on the other hand so does the Nemesis Staff).

I forgot to factor in Epic/Patron pools, good that you mentioned them.

I do thoroughly enjoy the control part. The tanking part I leave to my Brute friend, though some of the knockback then gets a bit in the way of his melee focus, which is why I respec'd Repulsion Bolt away and haven't taken Repulsion Field. I could of course slot a KB to KD. EDIT: nope, apparently not in Repulsion Field, the wiki says that disables the Repel part.
I'll have to look at Fold Space again, since I barely use Wormhole, good to know.

EDIT: as I understand it, Fold Space was replaced by Singularity(?)

Regarding Personal Force Field: I haven't slotted it in any way, but occasionally use it as my "Oh S#!t Button" when I have too much aggro and my health drops, so I have more time to heal myself and drop aggro.

 

Tactics also sounds useful, we both miss a bit to often for my taste. I think I'll add 1-2 slots to Stamina (currently only 1) and see what that does for my endurance problems.

 

Thanks!

Edited 18 hours ago by Jay-D

[Jay-D]

Thank you @dukedukes!

I always try to start with a hold, the whole containment makes it doubly frustrating when that misses - maybe another good reason to take Tactics. I naturally tend to target high HP enemies first, good to know that's the thing to do.

 

About those procs, is that something for lvl 50 onwards or better to start now (regarding inf, I have other 50s with a few 100 millions)? I'm pretty rusty on the amounts of inf necessary to get everything needed for set IOs, I seem to remember that for my other two 50s, I only started with that at 50.

 

Also great suggestion about Singularity, I'll have to try that tonight!

[biostem]

3 hours ago, Jay-D said:

I'm wondering if there are any worthy attacks

Gravity is one of the most "blastery" controller primaries.  I rarely find that I need other attacks.  I did notice that you didn't list crush, the ST immobilize - take it!  It's mag 4 and helps set up containment.  I also like to include stealth, so I can avoid unwanted fights, can get a bit better positioning before I start one, and it can take a LotG global recharge IO...

[dukedukes]

1 hour ago, Jay-D said:

About those procs, is that something for lvl 50 onwards or better to start now (regarding inf, I have other 50s with a few 100 millions)? I'm pretty rusty on the amounts of inf necessary to get everything needed for set IOs, I seem to remember that for my other two 50s, I only started with that at 50.

 

It's up to you, personally if I want a character to feel strong while leveling I'll buy procs where needed. I would at the very least slot proc Force Bomb as it's your only source of AOE damage before you get an epic pool. 

[Jay-D]

1 hour ago, dukedukes said:

 

It's up to you, personally if I want a character to feel strong while leveling I'll buy procs where needed. I would at the very least slot proc Force Bomb as it's your only source of AOE damage before you get an epic pool. 

...what kind of thing would I put in there? Sorry, I forgot most things about IOs (aside from the "Luck of the Gambler" name which rings a hefty bell).

[Jay-D]

2 hours ago, biostem said:

Gravity is one of the most "blastery" controller primaries.  I rarely find that I need other attacks.  I did notice that you didn't list crush, the ST immobilize - take it!  It's mag 4 and helps set up containment.  I also like to include stealth, so I can avoid unwanted fights, can get a bit better positioning before I start one, and it can take a LotG global recharge IO...

Darn, I respec'd that away

[Six-Six]

respec recipes are cheap from the AH.

Stealth pool's phase shift is also a better option for an oh crap button. that and misdirection to shed some unwanted aggro. You can also grant stealth to your pet so your foes won't know what hit them, especially with pet controls for trollers now. 😃

Meanwhile, I've seen people use Repulsion Field (and Storm's Hurricane) to herd mobs like a sheepdog. Quite impressive. And yes, KB-KD ruins the power. 

Another recent discovery I've made is to find a minimal damage power that accepts Universal Damage and slot it with +chance to confuse. The entire set also has good set bonuses even if it's not the full set. It's awfully expensive from the AH, though. But you can get it free by running the Summer Blockbuster thing.

As for end, I'd advise slot at least 3 end mod SOs until 35, or until you can get some +max end set bonuses. Have a look at your end consumption and recovery. A good rule to follow is to have your recovery at least twice the value of your consumption, and to slot end redux on most powers.

[dukedukes]

1 hour ago, Jay-D said:

...what kind of thing would I put in there? Sorry, I forgot most things about IOs (aside from the "Luck of the Gambler" name which rings a hefty bell).

 

For damage procs (chance of damage): Positron's Blast, Bombardment, Explosive Strike, Javelin Volley (more expensive). Other good options are Force Feedback for the chance for recharge, Annihilation for the -res. Get some accuracy too though.